1971

Brian's Song
ABC movie
Buzz Kulik, director
Eddie Saeta, unit production manager & first assistant director
Richard Learman, second assistant director

Critically acclaimed across the nation, and one of the most watched TV shows in history, Brian's Song was a fact-based story of professional football that reached an audience way beyond sports fans. Kulik's sensitive handling of this tragic story struck a national chord. The telefilm won three Emmys, including for best dramatic program and Jack Warden's performance as Chicago Bears Coach George Halas. The story concerns the friendship between two Bears, superstar Gale Sayers and fullback Brian Piccolo, who died of cancer at age 26. Billy Dee Williams played Sayers and James Caan enacted Piccolo and both reaped Emmy nominations in career-boosting parts. Also starring were Judy Pace and Shelley Fabares.